-Victoria-
I had Ani guide me to my father. The crowd parted for us like the red sea. People whispered and gasped, but we marched forward, heads held high. There was a brief flash of amusement on my father's face which he quickly hid. Once we stood before him, Ani gave a fluid bow while I dipped into a shaky curtsy.
"What is this, Victoria?" My father asked, trying to look uninterested, "Why have you brought this boy before me?"
"Father, this is my friend from Pelmora, Ani." I told him.
"I am well aware of who he is." My father said, fake irritation coming over his face, "Why is he stood before me?"
"Tonight," I began with a sigh, "I heard a word for my friend that couldn't possibly be considered true."
"What word was that?" He asked just to add to the drama.
"Traitor." I scoffed.
"Do you know how he earned that title?" My father asked, eyes narrowing as if he was actually displeased.
"He told me the story." I confessed.
"Then how can a family," He began in a slow, calculated voice, "Who betrayed and abandoned their King be anything less than traitors?"
"They might've turned away from the King but only to aid their Prince," I argued, "A man who just wanted to be with the one he loved."
"And you think this noble act should absolve them?" My father asked.
"Have they not remained loyal to the Crown even after being labeled traitors?" I asked, really getting into this dance we were performing, "They protected my grandmother, your mother, from harm when Inuvius's so called elite guard failed."
"That is true." Father said, beginning to drop the facade of displeasure.
"Now wait just a moment." I heard Inuvius say, but I was on a roll.
"And Ani, my first friend," I said, gesturing over to him, "He aided me when I had nothing. When the children of all these nobles pointed and stared, he guided me through a massive change in my life. That has to count for something."
"Indeed it should." My father agreed, amusement finally showing through.
"What is the meaning of this?" Inuvius demanded as he forced his way to stand before my father, "Your Majesty cannot be considering this outrageous idea? That family betrayed the crown. They refused to fight. They were cowards."
"They just wanted the senseless fighting to stop," I countered, "They wanted peace."
He began breathing heavy from anger. I could feel his magic growing. It was quickly squandered, however, by my father's own magic filling the room. I pulled Ani out of the way as my father rapidly approached Inuvius, grabbing the front of his shirt.
"You dare gather your magic against me and my daughter?" He growled, "After what you did earlier and what your family did in the past, do you think I should show you mercy?"
"My family has done nothing but faithfully server the Kingdom for the past 500-" Inuvius was cut off by my father.
"Do you truly believe we don't know what you did?" My father ground out, "That it was your family that sent the mercenaries after my mother when my father had the engagement between him and your sister cut off."
That revelation seemed to take everyone by surprise as gasps filled the room. Murmurs erupted as my father released Inuvius allowing him to drop to the floor. He scrambled to stand as people backed away.
"Th-that was never proven." He argued, "It was just a hateful rumor spread by traitors who wish to see our kingdom fall."
"You are right, we could never prove it," My father said, "Which is why you remained in your position, until today. If accusations and potentially fabricated stories were enough to remove a family 500 years ago, then actual actions are beyond qualifying. Lord Arick."
Ani's father swept forward out of the crowd, purposefully bumping into Inuvius on his way past. He lowered to one knee in front of my father.
"Lord Arick, for your son's friendship towards my daughter and your aunt's defense of my mother," My father began, "Your family is forgiven for the faults of the past. I apologize that I could not forgive you sooner."
"I humbly thank Your Majesty," Arick said, "And look forward to working with you and our Princess to strengthen our armies once again."
"You may rise," My father told him, "Have you and your family ready to move in two weeks. Your presence will be necessary here for the foreseeable future."
"It shall be done as you say, Your Majesty." Arick bowed.
He walked back into the crowd, giving Ani and I a wink as he passed. Ani and I shared a smile. That had gone better than I could've imagined. My father clapped his hands, silencing the murmuring crowd.
"What a tremendous day for our kingdom," He said, a joyful smile on his face, "For today marks the return to millennium old practices for training our soldiers. Practices that won many battles and kept our people safe. Truly this is a new dawn for Varezia and it is all because of my daughter, the Princess Victoria. Your future Queen. May magic shine upon you!"
"May magic shine upon you!" Everyone echoed.
A nervous smile appeared on my face. It seemed like everyone was now waiting for me to say something. Unfortunately, I had used every ounce of courage and social energy to stand here and talk to my father on the behalf of Ani's family. My fears of speaking went out the window, however, when a voice from deep in the crowd called out.
"How do we know she's even your daughter?"
Everyone stopped. My father's face flickered between shock and anger as he processed what was just shouted. He and I knew that I was, but none of these people had ever seen any proof. To top it all off I hardly resembled my father, taking mostly after my mother.
Murmurs started again as we both tried to find something to say. My father just seemed to stew with anger the more he thought. I was looking for anything when I noticed a shadow move quickly across the floor and join with Inuvius's own. He suddenly stood up straighter, smoothing out his clothing.
"That's right." He said with a new found confidence, "Her mother is, supposedly, the King's old servant. A woman who went missing near two decades ago. This girl could've been conceived with anyone. After all, we all knew the rumors surrounding that particular servant."
He ended with a smirk directed at my father whose hands clenched tighter. His magic began wiping around him in anger. I began moving towards him to try to calm his anger. Before I could take two steps, I heard Zekora's voice in my head.
"Show them the palace's magic." She whispered in my mind, "Only you can make them see."
How though? I had accidentally used that magic to repair the broken meal but I couldn't just use it on a whim. I closed my eyes and focused below me, where the magic had been earlier. I felt the magic there.
"Don't just feel, see it." Zekora's voice whispered again.
How? I fell to my knees, hands splayed on the ornate floor. Ani seemed to be the only one to notice, as he came to kneel beside me. He was saying something but I couldn't hear him. I was too lost, pushing and pulling on the magic, trying to get something to happen. Then it clicked.
My eyes flew open and I could see. The well of magic beneath our feet. The channels in the walls. The rivers running through the air. The cords that attached themselves to my father and I. It was mesmerizing.
"Show them." Zekora's voice whispered.
I didn't even have to do anything. I just heard gasps erupt around me. The tension in the room vanishing as everyone looked around in awe. Ani helped me to my feet. My eyes met my father's who stared back with pride.
"I believe that settles things." Zekora said.
I hadn't even noticed that she'd moved to stand behind my father or that the King's guard, along with Arick, had surrounded Inuvius, swords drawn.
"This settles nothing!" Inuvius argued.
"I disagree." A new voice chimed.
An old woman, supported by a cane, stepped forward, her head held high.
"That's Lady Herune." Ani whispered to me, "Her family has been at the head of the council since its conception. Plus, she's Zekora's maternal grandmother."
I jerked away from Ani in shock. He merely shrugged, probably knowing he buried the lead on that.
"Inuvius," She said, like she was admonishing a small child, "Your family is so young, perhaps you are unfamiliar with kingdom magic. Any family who's been around for a few millennia could recognize that this is the work of the first born princess and rightful heir. All praise to the Princess Victoria, our future Queen."
Applause erupted throughout the room. Everyone having been swayed by the display. The only one who hadn't, Inuvius, continued to stew, glancing around rapidly as more and more shadows joined his.
Something seemed to snap in his mind as our eyes met. In the blink of an eye, far faster than you'd imagine a man of his size could move, he was in front of me. Sword, appearing out of no where, glowing with magic to slice any barrier I could erect, ready to cut me down.
I closed my eyes, prepared for the inevitable, but was shocked by the sound of metal meeting metal. I had thought maybe Arick or one of the King's guards had managed to intervene. Instead, defending me was Alafaris, Inuvius's own son.
The King's guard moved into action, grabbing Inuvius and dragging him from the room. I watched him being taken away. He didn't look well. More a husk than a man. Like all the life had been drawn from him in that moment.
"I apologize for my father's actions, Your Highness," Alafaris said with a bow, "I hope someday you'll allow me to atone for his deeds."
He followed after the guards. I was inclined to believe him until I saw a shadow sneakily merge with his as he walked through the door. Great. This wasn't close to over.
"Victoria," Ani called my attention, "Are you alright?"
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. Opening them, the magic was once again hidden but the room seemed to be spinning. Looking back at Ani's concerned face, I realized no one else saw the spinning. I gave a chuckle.
"Guess not." I said, swaying as the world around me went dark once again.